The interactions between the sterically demanding trimesitylphosphine oxide and trimesityphosphine with scandium and selected lanthanide ions

Reaction of trimesitylphosphine oxide with lanthanide and scandium ions leads to hydrogen bonded complexes in solution and to the isolation of [Mes3PO]3H3O+. Trimesitlyphosphine reacts with lanthanide nitrates and triflates to give Mes3PH+.